Method and apparatus for mounting filaments



April 1, 1930. w. P. zABEL 1,752,828A

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING FILAMENTS Filed Dee. 7, 1927 3 sheets-sheet 1 .Z'AZSZ'EAZTDELJ WILLIAM E? ZABEL,

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AMOUNTING FILAMENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1927 Z'N VENTUR M/LLJM Z? ZBILJ Hrs z THEME-y:

April 1, 1930. w. P. zABEL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING FILAMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Deo. 7, 1927 Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM P. ZABEL, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW' YORK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING FILAMENTS Application filed December 7, 1927. Serial No. 238,420.

My invention relates to methods and apparatus for mounting filaments on the conductive supports and anchor wires of electric incandescent lamps and similar articles. The practice at present is to mount such filaments by hand and the principal object of my invention is to provide a mechanical method and apparatus whereby more accurate and uniform mounting is secured than is now' secured by hand mounting. The elimination of skilled hand labor is an additional advantage of my invention.

According to my invention the ends of the conductive supports and anchor wires projecting from the glass stem are definitely Apositioned,` then the filament is fed into position and finally the ends of the supports are united thereto. A specific feature of my invention is that the filament is fed through the ends of the anchor wires and so wires having looped ends may be utilized. The prevailing practice has been to use the less desirable open ends because of greater facility in hand mounting. Various other features and advantages will appear from the following description of a species thereof Vand from the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of mounting device made according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a detail; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partially in section of the anchor locating and channel forming members; Fig. '6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the anchor locating and positioning member showing the filament guide members in operative relation therewith; Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a filament after the mounting operation; Fig. 8'is an enlarged fragmentary elevation partially in section of an arbor showing one type of anchor support which may be used; and Fig. 9 is a perspective of an incandescent lamp having a filament mounted according to my invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, an unmounted incandescent lamp stem 10 is placed on a frame V11 and vertically supported thereonthrough the clips l2 and 13. Accurate positioning is accomplished through a gauge which is in the form of a lug 14 extending outwardly from the frame 11 and upon whichthe lower end of the stem arbor rests. The frame 11 is slidably mounted between guides 15 and 16 carried on frame 17 which in .turn is slidably mounted between guides 18 and 19 fastened tothe stationary upright 20 carried by the bed plate 21 supported through legs 22.

A lever arm 23 pivotally mounted at 24 on the upright 20 has formed therein a camslot 25 which receives a pin 26 carried by the frame 11. The shape of the cam slot is such that when the lever arm is pulled downwardly through its handle 27, the frame 11 is caused to move downwardly independent of the frame 17 for a 'portion of its travel. Durframe is then caused to move downwardly c with the frame 1'1, and as these frames travel downwardly the arbor 14 enters a stationary cylindrical member 36 whose sides are slotted to receive and position thel anchor support wires 37. vWhen the lever arm 23 has reached its lowermost position, the sliding frames l1 and 17 are locked by riding of the pin 26 into the offset 38 of the slot 25. The hooked ends of the'conductive supports are now in line and opposite a pair of clamping pliers 39 and 40 and the looped ends of the anchor supports are properly positioned to receive the filament. A filament locating channel which guides the filament during the mounting process is next formed bya plurality of plungers 41, as shown in Fig. 2, which are held in open position by a cam 42 whichwhen rotated allows the springs 43 to advance the lungers toward the center of the device.

he cam 42 is operated through a lever 44 which is brought forward so as to rotate the said cam about stationary member 42 in the direction of the arrow (A) through rod 45, pivotally mounted plate 46 and link 47 which connects to lug 47 extending from said cam. `As the cam rotates the extensions 48 of the plungers 41 ride down the inclined surfaces 49 thus allowing the springs 43 to advance the plungers. 'Ihe inner ends of the plungers are grooved as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and when in advanced position form a circular channel somewhat larger in diameter than the filament.

The loops in the anchor supports are locked and supported during the mounting operation by a plurality of movable clamping arms 50 which are caused to swing downwardly so that their ends 51 rest upon the fiange portion 52 of the cylindrical member 36' opposite each of the slots 53. The operation of the arms 50 is accomplished through lever 44 whose lower portion forms a cam 54 pivotally mounted on the bed plate 21. As shown in Figs. l and 4, the shape of the cam is such that as the I lever ispulled forward the said cam raises the lower end of arm 55 which in turn raises a plate 56k against the action of spring 57. Extending from the said plate are three vertical rods 58 which are attached to the arms 5() through the links 59 and upon the raising of the said plate the arms 50 are caused to rotate about their pivots 60 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The unmounted stem with its conductive supports and anchor wires is now properly positioned to receive the filament which is placed in a hopper 6l (Fig. 2). A cover plate62 is next placed over the funnel shaped opening G3 and compressed air is applied thereto through the connection 64. This forces the filament 65 down through the hollow gun 6G and into and around the track 67 formed by the grooved ends of" the plungers 4l. The filament at this time passes through the closed eyelets or loops 68 formed on the end of the anchor wires 37. After the filament has encircled the track each end thereof lieswithin an open hooked end of a conductive support 28 or 29. The hooked ends of the supports are nextclosed about the filament by moving lever arm 69 in the direction of the arrow (B) causing clamping pliers 39 and 40 to move inwardly through spring pressed rod 70 and pivotally mounted links 71-72. The clamping pliers are moved far enough to close the hooked ends ofthe conductive supports about the filament as shown in Figs. 7. By reversing the operation of the lever arm 44 the plungers 41 are Withdrawn and arms 50 raised out of contact to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. The frames 11 and 17 are next raised through lever arm 23 and cooperating springs 73 and 74 thereby placing the finished mount in a position where it may be conveniently removed and repiaced by an unmounted stem and the cycle of operations repeated.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a filament mounting apparatus, the combination of an anchor positioning member having slots to receive said anchors, a filament guideway disposed to receive the shaped ends of said anchors and clamping means having arms each in position to engage a portion of an anchor adjacent to said guideway.

2. In a filament mounting apparatus, the combination of an anchor positioning membe'r having longitudinal slots therein to receive anchors and a. flange at one end thereof, a filament guideway disposed to receive the shaped ends of said anchors and clamping means having arms each in position to engage a portion of an anchor and clamp it against said flange.

3. In a filamentl mounting apparatus, the combination of an anchor positioning member, and a plurality of movable members having their ends shaped to form a filament guideway adjacent to a portion of said positioning member.

4. In a filament mounting apparatus, the combination of an anchor positioning member at least partially cylindrical in shape and a plurality of movably mounted members radially disposed and having their ends shaped so that when brought together they will form av filament guideway adjacent to a position of said anchor positioning member.

5. In a filament mounting apparatus, the combination'of an" anchor positioning member at least partially cylindrical in shape, a plurality' of movably mounted members radially disposed and having their ends shaped so that when brought together they will form a filament guideway adjacent to a position of said anchor positioning member, and means for advancing or retracting said members.

In Witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand this 5th day of December, 1927.

WILLIAM P. ZABEL. 

